U.S. patent number 4,252,245 [Application Number 06/061,175] was granted by the patent office on 1981-02-24 for sealing structure for receiving gas-filler hose in a vehicle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Nissan Motor Company, Limited. Invention is credited to Michio Kudo.
United States Patent |
4,252,245 |
Kudo |
February 24, 1981 |
Sealing structure for receiving gas-filler hose in a vehicle
Abstract
An improved sealing structure for receiving a gas-filler hose in
a vehicle is described. The sealing structure comprises a neck
member having pair of stepped flange portions. Annular sealing
members are applied on respective flange portions and clamped
between the respective flange portions and a gas-filler base and an
outer panel of a rear wheel housing.
Inventors: |
Kudo; Michio (Yokohama,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Nissan Motor Company, Limited
(Yokohama, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
14449423 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/061,175 |
Filed: |
July 27, 1979 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 5, 1978 [JP] |
|
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53-107058[U] |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/86.2;
277/606; 277/621; 280/834; 296/97.22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L
41/086 (20130101); B60K 15/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60K
15/04 (20060101); F16L 41/08 (20060101); F16J
015/10 (); B65D 025/40 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/85SP,85F,85S,86R,86AT ;280/5A ;296/1C
;277/105,106,166,178 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ward, Jr.; Robert S.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a sealing structure for receiving a gas-filler hose and
securing hose on a gas-filler hose on a gas-filler base
and an outer panel of a rear wheel housing,
with openings respectively formed on the gas-filler base and the
outer panel in alignment defining a connect-through for the
gas-filler hose,
a neck member mounted to said gas-filler hose and having flange
portions to be secured onto the gas-filler base, and
annular elastical sealing members applied on the flange portions
and clamped between the flange portions and the gas-filler
base,
the improvement comprising: a pair of stepped flange portions
comprising an inner and higher leveled first flange portion and an
outer and lower leveled second flange portion provided on said neck
member in concentric relationship;
first and second annular sealing members respectively applied on
said first and second flange portions;
said first flange portion with said first sealing member passing
through an opening formed in the outer panel of the rear wheel
housing so as to be abutted against the gas-filler base and clamp
said first sealing member therebetween, and,
said second flange portion with said second sealing member being
abutted against the inside of the outer panel of the rear wheel
housing and clamping said second sealing member therebetween.
2. Sealing structure according to claim 1, wherein said first and
second sealing members are of different hardness.
3. Sealing structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first
and second sealing members are rubber.
4. Sealing structure according to claim 1, wherein said first
flange portion is secured onto the inner surface of the gas-filler
base by means of bolts and nuts.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sealing structure of a
connect-through of a vehicle body through which a gas-filler hose
passes so as to introduce one end thereof into the interior of the
vehicle.
Various constructions of sealing structures for receiving the
gas-filler hose are known from the prior art. In FIGS. 1 and 2,
there are respectively illustrated constructions of conventional
sealing structures for receiving the gas-filler hose provided on
vehicle bodies. With respect to each sealing structure, openings
for the gas-filler hose to pass therethrough are formed on a
respective gas-filler base and outer panel on the rear wheel
housing. The gas-filler hose is arranged on the exterior of the
vehicle, and one end of the hose is introduced into the interior of
the vehicle body.
In FIG. 1, a gas-filler base 10 is welded to an outer panel 12 of a
rear wheel housing by spot welding. A gas-filler hose 14 extends
through openings 16, 18 respectively provided on the gas-filler
base 10 and outer panel 12 in alignment relative to one another. On
the end of the hose 14, is secured a neck member 20 having a flange
portion 22 by which the neck member 20 is fixed to the gas-filler
base 10 by means of bolts 24, with a rubber seal 26 interposed
therebetween.
Further, there is illustrated another construction of a sealing
structure in FIG. 2. A rubber seal 30 is engaged with openings 32,
34 respectively formed on a gas-filler base 36 and an outer panel
38 of a rear wheel housing. A spring 40 is connected to the rubber
seal 30 at the intermediate portion between the gas-filler base 36
and outer panel 38 in order to bias the rubber seal 30 outwardly. A
gas-filler hose 42 passes through the rubber seal 30 while
elastically contacting the rubber seal 30 adjacent one end thereof
for gas-seal purposes.
Both of the aforementioned constructions of conventional sealing
structures suffer from difficulties in that the former requires
high accuracy in the parts to be welded and may produce unevenness
in the outer surface of the panels as a result of the spot welding
process, while the latter involves difficulty in mounting the
rubber seal 30 which may cause an unsatisfactory sealing
effect.
Therefore, the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned
disadvantages and difficulties of conventional sealing structures
by providing a sealing structure having a plurality of different
sealing members co-operating with each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing
structure which can be assembled easily and completely effect a gas
seal.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sealing structure
having two different sealing members one of which prevents
gas-leakage into the interior of the vehicle and the other of which
prevents an ingress of muddy water into the interior of the
vehicle.
A further object of the invention is to provide a sealing structure
having a neck member which is provided with stepped flange portions
so as to mount the sealing members thereon.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects and advantages, the sealing
structure for a connect-through of a vehicle body through which a
gas-filler hose passes, in accordance with the present invention,
comprises a neck member adapted to be fitted into the openings
formed on a gas-filler base and an upper panel of a rear wheel
housing and onto one end of the gas-filler hose; a pair of stepped
flange portions extended outwardly from the neck member in
concentric relationship with the annular portion thereof; first and
second sealing members, both of annular configuration being applied
to respective outer surfaces of the flange portions and
respectively faced to surround the openings of the gas-filler base
and outer panel of the rear wheel housing. The opening of the upper
panel of the rear wheel housing is adapted to receive the upper
flange portion therethrough so as to face the upper flange surface
to the inner surface of the gas-filler base with the first sealing
member interposed therebetween.
Preferably, the first and second sealing members are rubber seals
of different hardness.
The other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be
described hereafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be illustrated more fully by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-section of one of the constructions
of a sealing structure in the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-section of another construction of a
conventional sealing structure; and
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section of a sealing structure in
accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a sealing structure for a
connect-through to receive a gas-filler hose, in accordance with
the preferred embodiment of the invention.
A gas-filler hose 50 is generally arranged on the exterior of a
vehicle body and introduced at one end thereof into the vehicle
body through openings 52, 54 respectively formed on a gas-filler
base 56 and an outer panel 58 of rear wheel housing 60. A neck
member 62 is lipped over the end of the gas-filler hose 50 so as to
constitute a subassembly. The neck member 62 is formed with a pair
of stepped flange portions comprising an inner and higher level
flange portion 64 (hereafter referred to as a first flange portion)
and an outer and lower level flange portion 66 (hereafter referred
to as a second flange portion) which are annular and in
substantially concentric configurations about a circular opening 68
defined by the lipped portion 70.
A first rubber seal 72 and second rubber seal 74 respectively
having annular configurations are applied to the first and second
flange portions. Practically, it should be noted that the first and
second rubber seals 72 and 74 have different hardness; for example,
the first rubber seal 72 is relatively harder than the second
rubber seal 74. Employment of the rubber seals of different
hardness is advantageous in that they can effectively co-operate to
eliminate both gas-leakage and ingress of muddy water into the
interior of the vehicle.
The opening 54 of the outer panel 58 of the rear wheel housing 60
can receive the first flange portion 64 therethrough. The first
flange portion 64 passes through the opening 54 to face the inner
surface of the gas-filler base 56 with the first rubber seal
interposed therebetween and elastically secured onto the gas-filler
base 56 by bolts 76 and nuts 78. Thereupon, the second flange
portion 66 of the neck member 62 is urged into abutment against the
inner surface of the outer panel 58 of rear wheel housing 60 with
rubber seal 74, elastically situated therebetween.
The first rubber seal 72 which is clamped between the gas-filler
base 56 prevents a flow of gas into the interior of the vehicle
when gas is injected. While, the second rubber seal clamped between
the outer panel 58 and the second flange portion 66 prevents an
ingress of muddy water into the interior of the vehicle which may
be driven around the rear wheel housing 60 during the running of
the vehicle.
It should be understood that the first and second rubber seals need
not be formed of a rubber materials. It should be apparent that
synthetic rubber can be used. Alternatively, any seal member may be
used such as one formed of a synthetic resin having a suitable
elasticity and water resistance. The different hardnesses of the
first and second rubber seals is effective for accomodating any
variations in the accuracy of parts, thus assuring reliable sealing
effects.
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